Citi launches next generation mobile app in the Philippines

Mobile Banking is now the top digital channel for Citi’s consumer banking clients

Manila - For Citi’s credit card customers in the Philippines, the next generation Citi Mobile®App will significantly change the way they manage their finances as Citi introduces a new and comprehensive set of mobile app features and experiences.

Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed and consumer banking head Manoj Varma presented the Citi Mobile®App experience to provide customers with the freedom to do more, thanks to innovative and new functionalities, such as credit card locking and unlocking.

With this launch, Citi’s credit card clients in the country can seamlessly manage transactions and other needs digitally from anywhere, any time.

“We are delighted to continue to introduce innovative digital solutions in the credit card industry,” said Ahmed.  “We are relentlessly focused on making it more convenient for our customers to transact with us. The Citi Mobile App will deliver a simple, fast and personalized experience to our valued card customers.”

Citi's Consumer Banking business has focused on digital transformation, continuously enhancing capabilities to make the customer journey more seamless on desktop, mobile app or phone browser. More than 60 percent of Citi Philippines customers are already enrolled in digital channels, with even more customers already subscribed to electronic statements and notices. Today, the biggest growth in digital enrolments has been in mobile banking, which has surged 64% in the last 12 months.

“Mobile banking is Citi’s largest and fastest growing channel in the Philippines and we expect digital enrolments to continue to accelerate,” said Varma. “We are excited to continue our tradition of innovation by bringing new and upgraded mobile solutions to best serve our customers’ needs in the digital age.”

Citi is one of the first banks to launch an online presence and also one of the pioneers in attracting customers through its website. In recent years, the bank introduced numerous services including live chat, instant global fund transfers, and pioneering voice biometrics technology allowing customers to be identified through their unique voice print.

In Asia Pacific, mobile banking overtook other digital channels to become the preferred channel used by Citi’s Asia Pacific clients. Digital is also growing rapidly as a source of new business at Citi. Digital acquisition in Citi’s Credit Cards and Loans business grew 57% year-on-year, and digital lending now accounts for 40% of total consumer loans fulfilled by Citi in the region.

The next generation Citi Mobile® App provides a comprehensive suite of features to help customers track reward points and manage outstanding balances, available limits, transaction details and bill payments. Customers can quickly activate new or replacement cards and temporarily lock misplaced cards.

Security features includes biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, and Android Fingerprint) and the Citi Mobile® Token, which instantly generates a One-Time PIN that authorizes online banking transactions.

The Citi Mobile® App has also been designed to ensure a seamless and intuitive navigation experience. Qualified customers can convert a portion of their latest credit card balance to installment by simply tapping a “Convert” button. With just a few taps, eligible cardholders can get cash from their credit cards, which can be repaid in monthly instalments.

Citi’s performance in the digital banking space has been recognized by the industry, winning several notable awards recently including:

• Best Retail Mobile Banking Experience - Philippines (The Asset Triple A Digital Awards 2017)
• Best Internet Banking Initiative (The Asian Banker Philippine Country Awards 2017)
• Best Consumer Digital Bank – Philippines (Global Finance Best Digital Bank Awards 2017)

About Citi

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

Hit Korean show One Night Food Trip returns to the Philippines

K-Pop’s hottest idols tour the Philippines on a wild 48-hour gastronomic frenzy

   

Asia’s craziest food contest returns to the Philippines as One Night Food Trip – International Edition enters its second season on tvN Asia. This time, K-pop heartthrobs Nichkhun of boy band 2PM and actor-host Alexander “Xander” Lee face off against celebrity cousins Danica Sotto-Pingris and Ciara Sotto in a culinary frenzy around the country. One Night Food Trip – International Edition will fly exclusively with Cebu Pacific for the entire second season.

Based on popular Korean food competition show One Night Food Trip, the international edition adds a twist by having K-pop celebrities travel to various Asian destination including the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, and Malaysia where they eat, play, and compete against local celebrities. Each team must complete missions involving exotic flavors and cultural attractions to earn stamps. The team that collects the most stamps within 48 hours takes home the Golden Passport.

In the Philippine segment of the show, Nichkhun and Xander jet-set together from Cebu to Pampanga, while celebrity chef Danica and singer-actress Ciara take a separate route from Coron to Legazpi for a unique experience of the country’s sights and delicacies. One of their stops is at luxury integrated resort City of Dreams Manila where they explore the Forbes five-star hotel, NÜWA, try out decadent dishes at the award-winning Crystal Dragon restaurant, and immerse in the DreamWorks-inspired interactive play space called DreamPlay.

The four-episode Philippine segment on Season 2 airs on 30 July (Monday) at 18:30 (GMT+8). It is in partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, that markets and promotes the Philippines domestically and internationally as a world-class tourism destination.

Aside from 2PM, Nichkhun is also a songwriter, actor and model, with television and film projects in South Korea and China. On the other hand, Xander Lee is a former member of the South Korean boy band U-KISS. His most recent projects include the lead role in a Philippine TV series “My Korean Jagiya,” opposite Heart Evangelista.

From the Philippines, Danica Sotto-Pingris is a television host and celebrity chef, with a degree in Culinary Arts and Technology Management from the Center for Culinary Arts Manila. Her cousin, Ciara Sotto, is a television host, singer, actress and expert pole dancer. She regularly teaches pole dancing classes in Manila.

Cebu Pacific, the official carrier of One Night Food Trip – International Edition 2, has the widest network within the Philippines with 37 domestic destinations, which made traveling and shooting from one island to another easier with seamless inter-island connections, sparing the hosts and crew from flying to bigger airport hubs just to move across the Philippines. Aside from a direct flight between Manila and Incheon, Cebu Pacific also flies directly from Incheon to Cebu, making it easier to get to popular beach destinations like Mactan Island or Bohol, or connect to 26 international destinations that span the Middle East, Asia, Australia and the United States (Guam).

One Night Food Trip – International Edition debuted in 2017 on tvN in Asia with sister-and-brother K-pop idols, Sandara “Dara” Park and Thunder pairing against TV host Grace Lee and radio DJ Sam YG for the Philippine segment.

One Night Food Trip – International Edition will premiere exclusively on tvN on 30 July (Monday) at 18:30 (GMT+8). tvN is available in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, with subtitles in English, Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia and Thai.

Follow One Night Food Trip – International Edition Season 2 on social media with hashtags #OneNightFoodTripIntl2, #ONFTIntl2, #CEBTravels and #tvNAsia.

Learn more about tvN on Facebook @Ch.tvNAsia, Instagram @tvNAsia, and Twitter @tvN_Asia. tvN, where fun takes off!

#Official Airline Partner: Cebu Pacific

The show is supported by:

• Tourism Promotions Board Philippines
• City of Dreams, Manila

VALORIZE LOCAL: TOP PH BRANDS LAUNCH BRAND PILIPINAS

Top Filipino brands and organizations have come together to launch a movement that hopes to propel the single most important brand for all Filipinos—Brand Pilipinas.

The launch, held yesterday at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City, gathered more than a hundred top local brands who signed up to be partners in the Brand Pilipinas advocacy which aims to valorize local brands, locally made products and our homegrown artisans.

The full day event featured inspiring talks on Why Local B2B Brands are Slaying It, The Search for Origins - The Quest for Relevance in Food, Emerging Social Enterprises, Local is the New Premium Brand Pilipinas- The Arts, and finally, Why the Philippines is Poised to be the Next Tech Hub.

“The challenge for most Filipino brands is how to conquer that long-standing perception among that products made in the Philippines are sub-par. It’s time we had a paradigm-shift because this kind of mentality not only hurts local businesses, but the economic reputation of the Philippines as a whole,” Brad Geiser, co-convenor of the Brand Pilipinas movement said.

Apart from local brands, the movement also saw the participation of individuals and private businesses from various industries.

David Lim, Founder of Brown & Proud Movement stressed that it is high time for Filipino brands to take center stage. “Be brown and proud! Let’s show our love for local products by supporting local enterprises,” he said.

United Neon Advertising COO Freddie Arlantico also points out: “We are a country that's richly blessed with the best resources -- our people. Put together the Filipinos' creativity, skills, innovative ideas with the new technologies that are easily accessible by everyone and you have a formula for global excellence.”

Brand Pililpinas Movement Co-Convenor actor  and Founder of Liwanag ng Kapayapaan Foundation Robin Padilla said: “Ngayon ang oras para ipakita natin sa buong mundo ang ating dangal bilang Pilipino. Matapang, magaling, malikhain, mapagmahal sa bayan. Yan ang tatak ng tunay na Pilipino na kinakatawan ng Brand Pilipinas.”

Brand Pilipinas hopes the movement will influence Filipinos to adopt a “Filipino-first” mentality by choosing homegrown brands over the more popular and highly-commercial international brands.

“We want Brand Pilipinas to be the brand we wear, the brand we eat, the brand we use, the brand of which we could all be proud of,” Group of Five Creative Concepts Founder and CEO George Royeca, saying the movement hopes to see this vision become a reality very soon

Guests were also treated to local performances from Dulaang UP and Pilipinas Got Talent star Jade Riccio. The event also featured a fashion show by noted Filipino weave designer Joseph Aloysius Montelibano, a perfect tribute to our Filipino artists.

The Brand Pilipinas Conference is organized and supported by the following partners: Brown & Proud Movement, GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications, Group of Five Creative Concepts, IPG Mediabrands, Liwanag ng Kapayaan Foundation, Robin Padilla, United Neon Advertising, and Vidanes Celebrity Management.

Shopee Partners with Leading Beauty Brands, Maybelline and Palmolive to Celebrate Women Empowerment

Five Women’s Rights advocates, including 2013 Miss World, Megan Young, join Shopee in sharing their stories on overcoming society’s beauty standards

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, partnered leading beauty brands Maybelline and Palmolive, to bring together five Women’s Rights advocates in celebration of women empowerment. As part of Shopee’s Beauty Fair event, the women - 2013 Miss World, Megan Young, actress KC Concepcion, and blogger-influencers Martha Jante, Kristine Roces and Helen Payawal - each shared their personal stories on how they overcame society’s beauty standards, and to encourage Filipina women to do the same.

Jane Lim, Director of Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee’s Beauty Fair is a celebration of women and their success, and we are proud to partner Maybelline and Palmolive for this event - both leading beauty brands who share the same belief that women should be celebrated as they are. Beauty Fair was conceptualised as part of Shopee’s continued commitment to empowering Filipina across the country. We hope that this serves as an inspirational platform for more women to take a step forward towards achieving their goals.”

The event featured three different talk show sessions where the five women shared personal stories on various topics, including how the media has influenced the standards of beauty, their struggles with overcoming society’s expectations of women, and how they managed to achieve success in both their careers and personal lives. Attendees enjoyed a complimentary ride to the event from Grab, the official ride sponsor, as well as a free blow-dry and hair styling session by Creations - a salon by Asia’s Top Model Judge, Lourd Ramos’ salon.

2013 Miss World Megan Young on empowerment and standing up for yourself

As a speaker at the event, Young shared about her journey to being crowned 2013 Miss World, and how the title has since placed her in a position to inspire young women around her.

“Joining Miss World 5 years ago really took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to be more confident. After being crowned, I realised I was in a position where I had the power to influence young women, and I wanted to do my part to encourage them to stand up for themselves. I used to just shrug off people who say insensitive or hurtful comments, but now call them out and tell them they’re wrong, and I encourage all women to not be afraid to do the same,” shared Young.

Young’s success in her acting career is also a reflection of her commitment to empowering women, choosing only to act in powerful female roles. She currently stars in the drama,The Step Daughters, where she plays a young, fearless woman named Mayumi who changes her destiny by being tenacious and true to herself.

Maybelline’s top beauty influencers shared their stories on being confident

One of Maybelline’s top priorities is to empower women to #MakeItHappen. The brand presented top beauty influencers Martha Jante, Real Asian Beauty (Kristine Roces), and Helen on Fleek (Helen Payawal) to talk about their work as influencers and bloggers in the beauty industry. The famous influencers also shared their everyday struggles as women in their field and how they were able to overcome it with the confidence that makeup has been able to give them.

Palmolive brand ambassador, KC Concepcion, on how health can empower women to be their best self

Brand ambassador for Palmolive, KC Concepcion, also shared her own story on how being healthy is as important as being true to oneself. The singer turned actress talked about numerous topics from haircare to fitness, and how her journey with maintaining her health has helped her confidence and enabled her to achieve success in both her career and personal life.

In line with the Beauty Fair event, Shopee will also be celebrating Beauty Week from June 21 to 27. Users can expect up to 95% off the health and beauty category on top of a storewide sale, exclusive deals and bundles, P199 below collections and many more. Users can look forward to massive savings on a wide variety of items including makeup, skincare, haircare and other health and personal care items.

For more information about the Beauty Fair Sale, you may visit: https://shopee.ph/BestofBeauty

For more information, visit www.shopee.ph.

Download the Shopee app for free on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Derek Ramsay adds excitement to GAOC sponsored ‘Kasal’ screening.

Leading dental clinic, Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center (GAOC), led by its President and CEO Dr. Steve Mark Gan recently feted loyal clients, partners, and employees to a special block screening of the blockbuster romantic drama ‘Kasal’, in support of stars Derek Ramsay, Bea Alonzo, and Cherie Gil, all of whom are proud members of the growing GAOC family. Photo shows Dr. Steve Mark Gan and Derek Ramsay.

WHY HOME BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING IS VITAL IN HYPERTENSION CONTROL

From L-R: Dr. Alberto Atilano, President, Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH); Jing Castañeda, News Anchor, ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs; Dr. Jorge Sison, President, Philippine Heart Association (PHA); Dr. Grace Brizuela, Medical Manager, Pfizer

Last 25 May 2018 at Shangrila Manila, Pfizer in cooperation with the Dept. of Health had a talk with regards to hypertension and having a home monitoring blood pressure equipment which gives perfect and reliable readings. Hypertension represents a major burden in Asia, with a high prevalence rate but poor level of awareness and control reported in many countries in the region. Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) has been validated as an accurate and reliable measure of blood pressure that can help guide hypertension treatment as well as identify masked and white-coat hypertension. Despite its benefits, there has been limited research into home blood pressure monitoring in Asia.

In observance of World Hypertension Day, the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), the Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH), and Pfizer, have come together to fortify their commitment in raising awareness and promoting hypertension prevention, detection, and control among Filipinos, including measures that they could take in their own homes.

The value of HBPM

In a nationwide survey conducted in 2013, it was indicated that despite a high treatment rate of 75% among adult patients diagnosed with hypertension, adequate blood pressure control rate was low at 27%

Dr. Jorge A. Sison, PHA President, in a discussion held at the Edsa Shangri-La recently, validated that, “There are several factors that contribute to the current hypertension burden in Asia and the Philippines. This includes the current diet that most Filipinos eat - - restaurant and processed food, sugar drinks, etc; the relative physical inactivity, increasing rate of smoking, and increasing number of people who are beyond their ideal weight. This is only in addition to one’s inherent genetic disposition to develop hypertension.”

There is growing acknowledgment for the role of HBPM to evaluate and guide management of hypertension. Aside from being a simple tool for measuring blood pressure, HBPM is also recommended by guidelines to obtain reliable BP recordings because readings are taken in an environment that approximates one’s daily activities and exposures. Home systolic BP (SBP) <135 mm Hg and diastolic BP (DBP) <85 mm Hg are typically considered normal.

Sison added, “HBPM is performed in the Philippines, but not routinely, and there are no published data on the use of HBPM in the country. HBPM is currently used to investigate the status of BP control in patients with known hypertension who are taking treatment but with uncontrolled BP on follow-up. Some specialists use HBPM to make a diagnosis of hypertension in conjunction with clinic BP. Potential barriers to the use of HBPM include the cost and availability of HBPM devices, with only around 25% of the population with hypertension currently having access to such devices. Another barrier is the lack of trust among patients regarding the accuracy of their digital BP devices.”

Dr. Sison’s discussion of the Pfizer-funded research reveals that the burden of hypertension is shared by neighboring countries in Asia. And through the collaborative work of experts from these 12 countries, consensus statements have been formed which includes the recommendation to use HBPM as an additional tool to diagnose hypertension. By gaining a better understanding of a patient’s blood pressure pattern, the opportunity to appropriately manage the patient is enhanced, therefore increasing the chance of achieving BP control and reduce occurrence of complications like stroke and heart attack.

Hypertension control initiatives

Dr. Alberto A. Atilano, PSH President, said, "High blood pressure is a silent killer. It is the number one contributing risk factor for global death, causing many cardiovascular complications.” He furthers that people often don’t know they have high blood pressure because there are no symptoms. In line with PSH participation in the global initiative called May Measurement Month, which is spearheaded by the International Society of Hypertension, Dr Atilano shared how the local society is reaching out to all Filipinos to encourage  screening for hypertension.

Working together

Pfizer is committed to advancing collaborative efforts to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with a wide range of chronic diseases – not just hypertension – for people to live better, healthier lives.

According to Pfizer Medical Manager and internal medicine specialist Dr. Grace Brizuela, “Our efforts to positively impact patient outcomes would not be possible without our partnership with organizations like PHA and PSH.  By collaborating on common objectives to advance public health and supporting programs that create solutions for communities and stakeholders, Pfizer strengthens its commitment to help improve the lives of the patients we serve.”

Supporting experts in research and other scientific undertakings to advance the understanding of disease, such as the one shared by Dr Sison on the HOPE Asia regional initiative, is just one of the many ways by which Pfizer commits to society in improving the lives of patients.

Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world™

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety, and value in the discovery, development, and manufacture of healthcare products.

Pfizer Philippines

Since our establishment in 1954, Pfizer Philippines has been collaborating with health care providers, governments, and local communities to support and expand access to reliable and quality healthcare for Filipinos.

For over 60 years, Pfizer Philippines has been following the Pfizer Standard of quality, product safety, reliability, and medical information that has earned us the trust of our patients and the confidence of Filipino healthcare practitioners as a partner in caring for the Filipino patient.

ISLAS PINAS, THE NEW ICON OF TOURISM THROUGH FILIPINO CUISINE, OPENS AT DOUBLEDRAGON PLAZA AT DD MERIDIAN PARK

Islas Pinas, an indoor “Filipino Food & Heritage Village” and a new, distinct destination for both local andi nternational guests, is now open at the DoubleDragon Plaza, DD Meridian Park, Macapagal Avenue corner EDSA Extension, Bay Area, Pasay City, Metro Manila.

Designed to showcase the abundance and vibrancy of the Filipino culture, this new establishment lets guests discover, explore and experience the Philippines’s heritage sites, natural resources, hospitality and most importantly, its cuisine.

The result of collaboration between DoubleDragon Group and Chef Margarita Forés, Islas Pinas is a project that aims to inspire love for the Philippines and to cultivate patriotism by showcasing the country’s beautiful sites and diverse regional cuisines. With a seating capacity of over 700 seats in an expansive 2,500 square meter space, Islas Pinas is the perfect place to give visitors a taste of the best that the Philippines has to offer.

ISLAS PINAS also hosts an authentic Sarao Jeepney, which for many generations became the king of the Philippine streets especially in the countryside.

“DoubleDragon has always believed in embarking on projects with relevance. We believe Islas Pinas will be a landmark in the country, and will showcase the diversity not only of our cuisine and handicrafts but also our landscape and architecture brought about by the rich heritage and culture of the country,” says DoubleDragon’s Chief Investment Officer Hannah Yulo.

At the helm of this project is none other than Asia’s Best Female Chef of 2016, Margarita A. Forés whosebmission is t
o bring Filipino cuisine to global prominence. Thus, Islas Pinas is a vision coming to life for her, where Filipino food is not just on the sidelines but at the centerstage.

“This is an absolute dream project for me that has come at such a perfect time,” said Forés. “I give my thanks to then Undersecretary of Agriculture, now Secretary of Tourism Berna R. Puyat, for putting me together with the DoubleDragon group, who was looking for someone to operate this amazing Islas Pinas project about half a year ago. This fast-tracked such a blessed opportunity to continue pushing my biggest advocacy – that of helping to promote the best our country – our cuisine, ingredients, farers, artisan producers and home cooks from Batanes to Jolo – in the best way I can!”

It is her aim for guests to experience the Philippines with their five senses and beyond. Thus, aside from the culinary delights and a picturesque interior design worthy of Instagram posts, the venue will also feature modern and traditional cultural performances and games to ensure a fun and truly Pinoy ambiance.

SINAG, the Tagalog word for ‘ray of light’ offers all-day Filipino breakfast favorites like our TAPSILOG (TAPa – salted beef, SInangag – fried rice and ItLOG – fried egg) and Batchoy, an Ilonggo noodle soup with pork offal, crushed pork cracklings and beef loin.

ALAMAT or legend, tells the story of the different regions of the Philippines through its signature dishes. BILAO is coined after the woven winnowing basket where comfort snacks like pansit (fried noodles) and puto (rice cakes) are usually served, while PANADERYA offers neighborhood bakery favorites such as pan de sal and kalihim. TUSOK-TUSOK, on the other hand, offers urban street food finds like barbecue on stick, isaw (grilled chicken intestine) and kwek-kwek (fried quail eggs).

PANULAK or beverage is where the samalamig (cold drinks with different flavors) will be available. Lastly, PAMPANG or shore will allow guests to enjoy chosen fresh catch cooked to their preference.

All these will be available daily, without the scorching heat and pollution as the space is fully airconditioned. Located at the bustling DD Meridian Park in the Bay Area along EDSA Extension and Macapagal Avenue, Islas Pinas can be easily accessed using both private and public transportation.

“Because of the ideal location of DoubleDragon Plaza at DD Meridian Park – our close proximity to the airport terminals and being only about 5 minutes away from NAIA X – we believe ISLAS PINAS will become a must-visit stopover for both domestic and international tourists visiting the capital,” said DoubleDragon's Chairman Edgar Injap Sia II.

ISLAS PINAS is the main anchor of DoubleDragon Plaza, which forms part of the 4.8 Hectare DD Meridian Park commercial and office complex.

I

WHAT HOME BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING IS VITAL IN HYPERTENSION CONTROL

Last May 35, 2018 Pfizer partnered with Philippine Heart Association, and Philippine Society of Hypertension discussed how important it is to have a Home blood pressure monitoring
and it's effectiveness rather than a hospital monitored patients. Because if it's on hospital it always higher due to some environmental matters.

Philippine Heart Association, Philippine Society of Hypertension and Pfizer Collaborate to further manage the condition in the Philippines

Hypertension represents a major burden in Asia. With a high prevalence rate but poor level of awareness  and control reported in many countries in the region . Home blood pressure monitoring HBPM has been validated as accurate and reliable measure of blood  pressure that can help guide hypertension treatment as well as identify masked and white-coat hypertension. Despite its benefits, there has been limited research into home blood monitoring in Asia.

THE VALUE OF HBPM

In a nationwide survey conducted in 2013, it was indicated that despite a high treatment rate of 75% among adult patients diagnose with hypertension , adequate blood pressure control rate was low at 27%.
Dr. Jorge A. Sison , PHA President, in a discussion held at Edsa Shangrila recently validated that “there are several factors that contribute to the current hypertension burden in Asia and the Philippines.  This includes the current diet that Filipinos eat… , restaurant and processed food, sugar drinks, ect., the relative physical inactivity, increasing rate of smoking and increasing number of people who are beyond the ideal weight. This is only in addition to one’s inherent genetic disposition to develop hypertension.
 There is a growing acknowledgement for the role of HBPM to evaluate and guide management of hypertension. Aside from simple tool for measuring blood pressure . HBPM is also recommended by guidelines to obtain reliable BP recordings because readings are taken in an environment that approximates ones daily activities and exposure.” Home Systolic BP (SBP <135mm Hg and Diastolic BP (DPB) <85mm  Hg are typically considered normal.”

Hypertension control initiatives

Dr.  Alberto Atillano, PSH  President said, “High blood pressure is a silent killer. It is the number one contributing risk factor for global death, causing many cardiovascular complications”. He furthers says that people  often don’t know they have high blood pressure because there are no symptoms. In line with PSH participation  in the global initiative  called May Measurement Month, which is  spearheaded by International Society of Hypertension. He further shared how local society is reaching out to all Filipinos to encourage screening for hypertension.

Working togethe

Pfizer is committed to advancing collaborative efforts to reduce the mordibity and mortality associated with a wide range of chromic diseases , not just for hypertension, for people to live better, healthier lives.

According to Pfizer Medical Manager and internal medicine specialist  Dr.Grace Brizuela ‘ Our efforts to positively impact patient outcomes would not be possible without our partnership with organizations like iPHA and PSH. By collaborating on common objectives to advanced public health and supporting programs that create solutions for communities and shareholders.

Pfizer strengthens its commitment to help improve the lives of the patients  we serve.
Supporting experts in research and other scientific undertakings to advance the understanding of disease, such as the one shared  by Dr. Sison on the HOPE Asia regional initiative is one of the many ways by which Pfizer commits to society in improving the lives of patient.

Global experts tackles the benefits of Blockchain on PH Business

Last May 28-30, 2018 , Global experts tackles the benefits of the new form of technology which is called the Blockchain. This has the potential to change the way people do business. Being a newly relative new concept, Blockchain remains an arcane concept to many local businessman and company executives, particularly those who are not tekkie savvy.

As such many questions are floated around business trades. How can blockchain help improve the way we do business?  Will blockchain technology prove to be a boom for Philippine Commerce? Is our country ready for it?

Thats why a 3 day forum was done with the theme "Transforming Businesses and Industries with Blockchain Technology",

The forum was such as success helping entrepreneurs and corporate decision makers to find and try the right blockchain  solution for their businesses, particularly in the light of the fact that aside from Fintech, bookchain solutions can be implemented into gaming, supply chains, logistics, digital identity, and much more.

The first day of forum was devoted to two pre-conference bootcamps. One is a whole day workshop on "Ethereum and Smart Contract Development" which is designed especially for software developers , tech experts and blockchain enthusiasts who wish to get into coding in Tthe blockchain platform Ethereum.

 The trainers for the workshop are Harpreet Singh Maan and Adly Abdullah, CEO and CTO respectively, and co-founders of Blockchain technology who have done great  job and shared their crops so well.

While the 2nd Workshop was devoted solely for the member of the press dubbed as the "Media Blockchain Workshop. " The workshop was so effective in helping media understand and have a better appreciation of the Blockchain technology is , its challenges , risk and opportunities. With their partner Ms. Amor Maclang , globally awarded band architect, risk, crisis and reputation strategist, marketing and communications innovator and co-founder of GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications Inc.

I happened to attend the opening of the formal conference last May 29th and with the launching of the Blockchain Association of the Philippines (BAP) the very first official blockchain related association in the country.

Among'st what I covered is the Unionank Chairman Justo A. Ortiz together with the top Global Banking and Finance experts who was a part of this movement of Blockchain technologies.

The last day forum forcuses on exploring the role of blockchain on disrupting , enhancing and creatiing new business opportunities in established businesses verticals and involves major technology giants such as IBM, SAP and Microsoft.

The panel discusssions on blockchain for social good leaded by Daniel de Gruijter, of Incitement, as well as Paolo Magnata from the UNDP, as well as the look at how blockchain can be applied to the Entertainment, logistics, energy , commerce, healthcare and even govt sectors.